Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Thank you Clearblue® for sponsoring this post. The new Clearblue® Connected Ovulation Test System is now available at major retailers across the U.S. such as Walmart, Target, Amazon and Meijer. Visit a store near you to try it!.

I am still waiting for the “How to be an adult” manual to be published, but until then I guess we are continuing to just figure this whole thing out by ourselves (with a little help from Google)! Tyler & I have now been in our house for a whole month, & surprisingly the most common follow up question to “I just bought a house” is “So, when are you having kids”…. But seriously, even when you are trying to conceive, how do people expect you to answer that question? Yes, my husband & I are actively having sex, would you like to know more? But seriously, if you have a good answer come back please let me know!

Our family is blessed with a bundle of grandkids already – 5 year old twin nieces from my sister, & a 2 year old niece + twin boys on the way from Tyler’s sister – so the pressure to have kids has been generally light for us. However, we are ready to start our family, & it seems that my biological clock suddenly kicked in when I turned 30 because I went from pretty indifferent about the matter, to 100% gung-ho over this past Summer.

We “pulled the goalie” in June, & being the competitive human that I am, I immediately went out and bought all the pregnancy tests, sure that we would have a positive result in no time. By September, I started to realize that maybe I didn’t totally understand how my body worked after all, & needed to find some tools to help in our attempts to conceive.

When searching for an ovulation tracking system, I wanted something that would be quick + mess free to use, trackable from month to month, & being the millennial that I am, available from my phone. I connected with the Clearblue® Connected Ovulation Test System because it pairs the accuracy of a Clearblue® Ovulation Test with the convenience of an app – maximizing the chances of getting pregnant in a way like never before.

I have now been using the Clearblue® Connected Ovulation Test System for three months, & while we are still on our trying to conceive (TTC) journey, I now understand so much more about my body and its rhythms! This Clearblue® product is the first and only system to accurately track two unique hormones (LH & E3G) & connects with my phone so that I know when to test, and when my peak fertility has been detected. I now feel so much more knowledgeable about my monthly cycles than ever before and feel a little silly for not knowing how my body worked, like how using my personal hormone data, I have only a few fertile days a month & need to take advantage of that tiny window of opportunity! Thankfully, the Clearblue® Connected Ovulation Test System typically identifies 4 or more fertile days each cycle1 and reminds Tyler and I to take advantage by displaying a smiley face on the test stick. This process can feel frustrating & overwhelming, so the smiley face definitely helps! I like to take screenshots from when the app detects my hormone surges to send Tyler so he can join in on the fun & excitement of this chapter of our lives. (1) In a study of 87 women, 4 or more fertile days were identified in 80% of cycles using actual cycle length (2012)”

Looking to get started with your own baby making journey? I highly recommend the Clearblue® Connected Ovulation Test System now available at major retailers across the U.S. such as Walmart, Target, Amazon and Meijer. Visit a store near you to try it! Are you already using it? I would love to connect with others on this chapter of their lives too!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

I love living in Denver because there are always new restaurants/bars/hiking trails to check out, & fun activities from the city to the mountains. Recently I wore this lacy top (now on sale here) for a night of exploring in the RiNo neighborhood & found a new bar to add to our list of favorites. Nocturne is a funky little jazz bar - tasty cocktails + live music.

What ways do you find new local spots in your town? I use Localeur - an app of recommended spots, curated by vetted locals in each city. I use to contribute to the Nashville page, & still love staying updated on new places as they pop up - a yearly visit to enjoy the best of Nashville food & drink has to be an official tradition!

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

I have already worn this dress for day time adventures around Denver (full outfit post here), but it is oh so perfect for date night too! One hit wonders don't make it long in my closet, as every piece has to earn its space by being versatile for season/occasion, & this piece has claimed its stake to stay. I loved dressing this gorgeous floral print maxi dress up for a pool hall date with sassy tassel earrings + glam velvet heels (also available in peep toe)! Read on to shop these exact items!

If you are in Denver have you spotted this new pool hall in RiNo? I love that it is tucked in an alley, so it feels like you have your own piece of the city!

What are your best tricks for transitioning a piece from day to night? How do you vet new pieces into your closet?

{shop these exact pieces + other favorites}

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Don't tell me you don't have a #TacoTuesday dress? I do, & it makes this weekly tradition that much more festive! While Denver is currently experiencing snow, I know the sun is just waiting to make its return, so this dress will be ready to go once it does!

Do you celebrate Taco Tuesday? Where is your favorite local spot??

{shop these exact pieces + other favorites}

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Monday, November 6, 2017

My usual Christmas present M.O. is to purchase a few presents each month so that by the time November rolls around, all of the people have been crossed off my list & the presents are all ready wrapped & ready to go by Thanksgiving... I know, I was the annoying overachiever kid who always wanted a gold star.

This year however is very different, & I'm freaking out! The intensity of our whole home buying process threw a wrench in my plans, & I haven't even thought about presents since we started the house hunt in the Spring... meaning, I have crossed off no names, & am looking at Thanksgiving looming straight ahead with ZERO presents stashed away (plus a bank account that I have already mentally squirreled away for appliances + furniture).

So this year, I am going to have to buy all of my presents in the next month, on a budget & am looking at uncharted territory! I plan to do just a few gift guide posts over the next couple of weeks, purchasing on unique, budget friendly shops, and am kicking off my share-fest with today's fabulous shop: 7 Charming Sisters.

I love that you can shop for pieces curated by the personality of each "sister", including "social butterfly" & "all-American girl", by style, or by trend - with pieces to impress every lady on your list, for any budget. My favorite include this necklace, & this gorgeous pair of earrings! Shop on to get the necklace from my most recently teacher style outfit.

Are you a buy gifts all year, or wait till the end type of person? Who is the toughest person on your list?

{shop these exact pieces + other similar favorites}

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